'A lot has happened': Timber bids Feyenoord farewell after row with Van Persie

Feyenoord's Quinten Timber (R) walks beside manager Robin van Persie
Feyenoord's Quinten Timber (R) walks beside manager Robin van Persieimages/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Former Feyenoord captain Quinten Timber said he and manager Robin van Persie made amends after an explosive row was said to have unfolded on Sunday.

Timber and Van Persie reportedly got into a heated row after Feyenoord's 4-3 loss to Sparta on Sunday. The two clashed heads, according to Algemeen Dagblad's Mikos Gouka, after which Timber and Van Persie were said to be forcibly separated - something Timber denies.

Ahead of his 4.5-million-euro (£3.9m) move to Olympique Marseille, Timber played down the altercation in an interview with ESPN at Rotterdam-The Hague Airport.

"Ultimately, a lot has happened, especially last Sunday," said Timber, who spoke to Van Persie after the alleged incident.

"Sunday wasn't the most pleasant moment, but you have to learn from that. I spoke to the manager, and we had a good conversation. We wish each other the best in the course of our careers."

Whereas director Dennis te Kloese wouldn't deny the allegations, Timber denied that he had butted heads with Van Persie in a literal sense: "That's not true. Of course, a few things were said, but that stays in the dressing room. There was definitely no head-to-head confrontation."

Captaincy controversy

After Van Persie dropped Timber to the bench again on Sunday, the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker explained to the press that the midfielder lacked work ethic in training sessions. Timber, who was Feyenoord's captain during the 2024/25 season, responded by giving an impromptu interview after the game against Sparta.

Van Persie controversially stripped Timber from his captaincy ahead of the current season, later citing the midfielder's expiring contract as the reason behind his decision. Van Persie would later drop Timber from the starting lineup more frequently.

However, Timber reassured that this did not sour the relationship between the two: "I wouldn't call it a difficult collaboration with Van Persie. We've also had some great matches over the past six months, and of course, things have happened. The captain's armband was part of that, but there are other things too.

"A lot of good things have happened, and I've enjoyed myself. It hasn't been a difficult collaboration; I really don't want to call it that. These things happen in the world of football, and usually you don't notice them. Now everyone has been a spectator. We talked it out like men, and now it's over and done with."

Despite his temporary falling out with the manager, Timber, the twin brother of Arsenal's Jurrien Timber, will not leave the club with a sour taste in his mouth.

"I look back fondly on my time at Feyenoord, during which I learned a lot. Ups and downs are part and parcel of such a period," he said.